Foreign Secretary calls on the Government of Bahrain to implement Commission of Inquiry's recommendations

Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on the Government of Bahrain to implement recommendations from an independent report which contains ‘worrying findings’.

Commenting on the report the Foreign Secretary said:

“I strongly welcome today’s publication of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry’s report. We will be reviewing it in detail and discussing the findings with our partners."

“Since the beginning of the unrest in February we have continually expressed our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain and made clear that this must be addressed openly and urgently. The Government of Bahrain bears a particularly responsibility for this, as the report acknowledges. The report offers an important opportunity to rebuild trust and confidence and promote reform and reconciliation."

“Some of the Commission’s findings are deeply worrying, in particular the use of systematic torture and excessive force against detainees. We therefore welcome the King of Bahrain’s initial response to the report and the Government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations, ensuring accountability for past human rights abuses and putting in place mechanisms to prevent future abuses. The world will be watching to ensure that it acts decisively in the coming days and weeks to address the serious abuses identified. This will be crucial to Bahrain’s future stability."

“We also urge all opposition groups to act on the report’s recommendations, demonstrating their commitment to reconciliation and contributing to the process of renewal. The UK stands ready to offer Bahrain assistance in this critical work."